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How to Transfer Photos from Mac to iPhone Using a Cable or Wirelessly?

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"How do I move photos from my iMac onto my iPhone so that I can upload them to Instagram? As a photographer my images are loaded and stored on my iMac, but I wish to use Instagram as a social media outlet for my images".

- from Apple Community

When you've organized your beautiful photos on your Mac and want to transfer them to your iPhone for easy viewing or sharing on social media, what should you do? This article will provide a detailed guide on how to transfer photos from Mac to iPhone. Whether you prefer wireless transfer or trust USB connections more, you'll find a method that suits you!

how to transfer photos from mac to iphone

 

Part 1. How to Transfer Photos from Mac to iPhone Using Cable

If you prefer using a cable for data transfer, here is how to transfer photos from Mac to iPhone with a cable in 2 easy ways.

1.1 How to Import Photos from Mac to iPhone in One Click

iOS Transfer is a transfer software specifically designed for iOS users. It supports quickly importing photos, videos, contacts, and more from a Mac to an iPhone without overwriting the existing data on the device. Compared to the cumbersome iTunes syncing method, it offers a more intuitive interface and faster transfer speeds, making it especially suitable for users who don't want to be limited by the Apple ecosystem.

Key features of iOS Transfer:

  • Transfer photos from iPhone to Mac or Mac to iPhone in one click.
  • Offer five transfer modes: Transfer from iOS to computer, iOS to iOS, computer to iOS, iTunes and iOS, and iTunes to computer.
  • Support to transfer photos, music, iTunes U, podcasts, ringtones, audiobooks, voice memos, playlists, movies, Home videos, TV shows, music videos, and contacts from Mac/Windows to iPhone/iPad.
  • Easy to use and fast transfer with no data quality loss.
  • An excellent iOS photo organizer that you can create photo albums, delete unwanted photos, move photos between albums, and more.
  • Widely compatible with almost all iOS devices, including the latest iPhone 16 series, etc (iOS 18 supported).

Here is how to move photos from MacBook to iPhone using iOS Transfer:

01Download and install iOS Transfer on your Mac. Connect your iPhone to the Mac using a USB cable, then launch the program and wait for the device to be recognized.

connect iphone and mac

02Click on the "Photos" category on the left, then click the "Add" button. Select the photo files or folders you want to upload from your Mac, and once you've confirmed everything is correct, click "Open" to complete the import.

how to get photos from mac to iphone using ios transfer

1.2 How to Move Photos from Mac to iPhone Using iTunes/Finder

If you prefer using Apple's official tools, you can also choose to use iTunes (for macOS Mojave and earlier) or Finder (for macOS Catalina and later) to sync photos. However, please note that during the sync process, it may overwrite the existing photos on your iPhone.

How to Import Photos from MacBook to iPhone Using iTunes:

Step 1. Connect the iPhone to the Mac computer. Once iTunes opens, click the device button and select "Photos".

Step 2. Check the "Sync Photos" option and choose the source folder under "Copy photos from".

Step 3. Click "Apply" to begin syncing your photos from your Mac to your iPhone via iTunes.

how to move photos from mac to iphone using itunes

How to Add Photos from MacBook to iPhone Using Finder:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your MacBook using a USB cable.

Step 2. Open Finder on your MacBook. You should see your iPhone listed in the sidebar under "Locations".

Step 3. Click on your iPhone in the Finder sidebar to open its details.

Step 4. In the Finder window, click on the "Photos" tab at the top.

Step 5. Enable the option "Sync photos to your device from" and choose the folder or app from which you'd like to transfer photos (such as the Photos app or a specific folder on your Mac).

Step 6. Select the albums or folders you want to sync to your iPhone.

Step 7. Click the "Apply" button in the lower right corner to start the sync process.

how to import photos from macbook to iphone using finder

Part 2. How to Transfer Photos from Mac to iPhone Wirelessly

If you don't like using a data cable or don't have a device connected at the moment, you can also transfer photos between your Mac and iPhone wirelessly. In this section, we will introduce three popular methods.

2.1 How to Sync Photos from MacBook to iPhone with iCloud

iCloud is Apple's official cloud service, which supports automatically syncing photos from your Mac to your iPhone. As long as both devices are logged into the same Apple ID, photos will be updated in real-time. This is ideal for users who want their photos to stay synced and automatically backed up. But make sure there is enough space in iCloud. (How to free up iCloud storage?)

Here is how to sync photos from MacBook to iPhone with iCloud:

Step 1. Make sure both your Mac and iPhone are logged into the same Apple ID.

Step 2. On your Mac, click "System Settings" > "Apple ID" > "iCloud".

Step 3. Enable the "Photos" option and check "iCloud Photo Library".

enable icloud photo library on mac

Step 4. On your iPhone, go to "Settings" > "[Your Apple ID]" > "iCloud" > "Photos".

Step 5. Turn on "iCloud Photos" and wait for the sync to complete.

how to sync photos from macbook to iphone with icloud

All photos uploaded to iCloud will automatically appear in the Photos app on your iPhone, without manual intervention. This is ideal for users who prefer automation.

2.2 How to Get Photos from Mac to iPhone Using Google Photos

How to transfer photos from Mac to iPhone without iCloud? Google Photos is also a great option. It supports syncing photos across multiple devices and provides 15GB of free cloud storage. To transfer photos between a Mac and an iPhone using Google Photos, make sure you're using the same account on both Apple devices.

Here is how to transfer photos from Mac to iPhone using Google Photos:

Step 1. Open a browser on your Mac, go to photos.google.com, and sign in to your Google account.

Step 2. Click the "Upload" button and select the photos on your Mac to upload.

how to transfer photos from mac to iphone without icloud using google photos

Step 3. Install and open the Google Photos app on your iPhone.

Step 3. Log in with the same Google account, and you'll be able to view and download the photos.

2.3 How to Send Photos from MacBook to iPhone via AirDrop

You can also transfer photos from your Mac to your iPhone using AirDrop. AirDrop is a convenient way to quickly transfer files between Apple devices without the need for cloud services or third-party software. As long as both devices are within Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range, efficient transfers can be made.

Here is how to export photos from MacBook to iPhone via AirDrop:

Step 1. Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both your Mac and iPhone.

Step 2. On your iPhone, open the "Control Center" and make sure AirDrop is set to "Everyone" or "Contacts Only". (AirDrop not working on iPhone?)

enable airdrop on iphone

Step 3. On your Mac, head to "Finder" > "Go" > "AirDrop". Under the "Allow to be discovered by" option, choose "Everyone" or "Contacts Only".

enable airdrop on mac

Step 4. On your Mac, select the photos you want to send, right-click, and choose "Share" > "AirDrop".

how to transfer photos from mac to iphone wirelessly via airdrop

Step 5. Choose your iPhone and confirm the sending.

Step 6. On your iPhone, tap "Accept", and the photos will be saved directly to the Photos app.

Conclusion

That's all about how to transfer photos from Mac to iPhone. Which method works best for you depends on your usage habits and needs. If you want a simple, offline solution that won't overwrite your original photos, iOS Transfer is the most recommended tool. It not only supports photo transfer but also works with videos, music, contacts, and other data formats, making it an all-in-one iOS data management solution.

Try any of the above methods now to make transferring photos between your Mac and iPhone easier and more seamless!

Related Articles:

How to Transfer Files from Mac to iPhone? Solved in 5 Proven Ways

[Step-by-Step Guide] How to Transfer Videos from Mac to iPhone?

How to Transfer Photos from One iCloud Account to Another on PC/Mac, iPhone/iPad?

How to Transfer Photos from Mac to iPad with or without iTunes?

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